Umbrella



p 13, 1933- P. G. BRAUNSCHWEIGER 2,130,294

UMBRELLA Filed Sept. 1'7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WM '1 ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1938.

P. e. BRAUNSCHWEIGER UMBRELLA Filed Sept. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR f ha e, ATTORNEY UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE UMBRELLA Paul G. Braunschweiger, Troy, Ohio,-assignor to The Troy Sunshade Company, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 17, 1936, Serial No. 101,199

6 Claims. 135-20) This invention relates to umbrellas. constructed with a central staff or stick of sev- One of the principal objects of the invention eral sections which may be taken apart in order is the provision of an umbrella having a rib that the umbrella in collapsed condition may be structure so arranged that a reverse curvature more readily handled. Such umbrellas, even is imparted to the cover to provide a pleasing when provided with detachable staffs, are of such contour, and which is of such character that size that additional means for reducing the overthis desirable result obtains in a structure having all collapsed length are of advantage.

the simplicity and reliability of a conventional In the umbrella here under consideration a umbrella, pleasingly curved contour is obtained in a struc- Another object of the invention is the proture providing reliability of construction, a de- 10 vision of an umbrella of the character mentioned sired degree of weather-tightness, and additioncomprising a central staff having a main rib ally the arrangement is such that closing movestructure extending from adjacent the staff end, ment of the umbrella results in a shortening of and an auxiliary rib structure that is attached the umbrella lengthwise of the staff.

to and extends above the main rib structure in- Referring now more particularly to the drawdependently of any direct connection to the staff. ings, the umbrella comprises a central staff 10 Another object of the invention is the prowhich, at its lower end, has provision for the apvision of an umbrella having a rib structure that plication of an extension staff such that the umis arranged to impart a reversed curvature to the brella may be raised to any desired elevation.

umbrella cover and is constructed so that an As shown, the lower end of the staff ll] termi- 20 advantageous reduction in length obtains by nates in a sleeve portion II which functions as lowering the umbrella to the collapsed position. a socket for reception of an extending staff por- Other objects and advantages of the invention tion I2. The upper end of the staff It! has afwill be apparent from the following description, fixed thereto means for attachment of a pluthe accompanying drawings, and'the appended rality of main ribs l4. As shown, the ribs are claims. attached for pivotal movement with respect to In the drawings, which disclose a preferred the staff through provision of a collar [5 having embodiment of the invention, a sleeve-like part l6 that is receivable upon the Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an umbrella staff end of reduced diameter as indicated at 11.

constructed in accordance with this invention; The collar is fixed to the staff end as by the pro- 30 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view vision of one or more nails of which one is inshowing the umbrella rib structure in extended dicated at l8. The collar has formed thereon an position; annularflage 20 having a peripheral groove 2|. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the rib The flange is also providedwith angularly spaced structure of the umbrella; and slots 22 which receive the inner ends of the main 35 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view ribs M that are held in assembled relationship as indicated by the line 44 on Fig. 1. thereonthrough provision of a Wire ring 23 that In the drawings, in which like characters of lies within the slot 2| and functions as a pivot reference designate like parts throughout the upon which the ribs may move.

several views thereof, there is illustrated an um- Extension or collapse of the umbrella is accom- 40 brella of the general type known to the trade plished through provision of a runner 25 that is as a garden umbrella. Umbrellas of this general slidable upon the staff l0 and which has extendcharacter are frequently made to an extremely ing therefrom brace rods 26 that connect to the large size, sometimes having a diameter in exmain ribs M by pivotal attachment as indicated cess of eight feet. To be a commercially acceptat 21. A latching device, such as is indicated at able article they are required to possess the usual 28 on the staff l0, serves to engage the runner features of utility common to conventional um- 25 to hold the rib structure in extended position. brellas, and in addition they usually incorporate In considering an umbrella structure of this genfeatures of ornamentation and the like in order eral character from the viewpoint of compactness to produce an effect more pleasing than is found and portability it is to be noted that even in 50 in umbrellas that serve merely as a protection umbrellas incorporating a telescopically separable against the elements. Garden umbrellas and staff there is a minimum staff length which is the like are generally arranged so that they may limited by the traverse of the runner 25. In be collapsed when desired in order that they other words, that portion of thestaif extending may be rendered portable. They are frequently from the point of attachment of the ribs may not 55 the umbrella they will lie substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the staif. They are constructed of a material sufliciently resilient that when extending the umbrella they may be deformed to conform to the shape of the cover.

The reversed curvature of the cover, referred to above and which is defined in the trade as a pagoda type umbrella, is accomplished through provision of an auxiliary rib structure which is attached to the main rib structure and projects thereabove in a direction opposite to that of the staff l0. As shown, auxiliary ribs. are provided having pivotal connection at 3l' with the main ribs intermediate the attachment of the main ribs to the collar l5 and the connection of themain ribs at 21 to the brace rods. In the illustrated embodiment of the'invention the auxiliary ribs 30 are provided for alternate main ribs as it has been found that such an arrange ment provides a structure of adequate strength for the purpose intended. The auxiliary ribs 30 are joined to a collar 33 which, for convenience in manufacturing and assembly, may be similar to the collar l5 that is attached to the staff Hi. The collar 33 is entirely independent of any direct connection with the stair l0 and, during opening and closing of the umbrella, it moves with respectto the staff. The path of movement of the collar 33 is axial with respect to the staff I0 because of the symmetrical relationship of the parts to which it is attached and, because of the coordination of those parts as to length, the collar moves in the collapsed position of the urnbrella to a position closely adjacent the end of the statl l0. As is shown in the drawings, the collar 33 moves in the extended position of the umbrella to a position that is removed from the shaft end a material distance.

The auxiliary rib collar 33 is arranged to permit attachment of the umbrella cover thereto in such a manner that it is rendered secure. and weather-tight, and it also serves as a means of locating and holding the cover concentrically with respect to the main rib structure. As shown, a plug 35 is received within the sleeve 36 of the collar 33 and has a shouldered lower end 36 which is quite narrow and which extends but a short distance below the collar.. The opposite end of the plug extends beyond the collar sleeve as indicated at 31 and thus affords a projection for engagement of the cover and for attachment of suitable means by which this portion of the cover structure is rendered weathertight. As shown, the cover 40 is constructed with a central aperture of such size to be receivable on the plug end 31; suitable reinforcing being provided at the aperture rim to provide a structure that will effectively resist tearing in the normal course of use. An overlying cap 42 is provided which telescopically engages the plug end 31 and overlies the central section of the cover. In the illustrated embodiment of the in vention a decorative fringe 43 is incorporated in the assembly and is placed over the cover and beneath the cap 42; the related sizes of these various parts being such that the cap may be forcibly applied so that all of the parts are securely held. By constructing the plug 35 of wood the collar and cap may be nailed thereto so that a permanent relationship is obtained. As shown, a nail 44 holds the collar in place while a nail 45 passes through the cap into the plug.

As mentioned above, the proportioning of the several parts constituting the auxiliary structure is such that the plug and collar of this structure stand in a position remote with respect to the staff end when the umbrella is in the open position, and move to a position closely adjacent the staff end when the umbrella is collapsed. As shown, the relationship of parts is such that in theopen or extended position of the umbrella the'auxiliary ribs 30 stand upwardly from the main ribs at an angle of the order of 45 which carries the auxiliary rib plug and collar a material distance from the end of the staff l0. When collapsed the auxiliary ribs 30 lie parallel to the main ribs I4.

In preparing the cover fabric for the umbrella the material is so out and joined to provide the desired contour including the reverse curvature of surface that provides the pagoda effect. By properly shaping the material of the cover it may be caused to follow generally the direction of the auxiliary rib structure and to curve gradually into that surface portion outwardly of the central upstanding part which follows the contour of the main ribs I4. As the radial length of the cover closely approximates the effective length of the rib structure, which is the length of the auxiliary ribs plus the length of the main ribs from the point of attachment of the auxiliary ribs to the outer end of the main ribs, the cover is maintained taut in the extended position and is likewise sufliciently stretched in the collapsed position to permit of easy handling of the umbrella. The desired smooth surface of the cover also obtains through the proper positioning of attaching means shown in the form of clips which are clamped to the cover and slidably engage the rib structure. The positioning of these clips is such that the innermost clips are attached to the ribs a distance outwardly of the attachment of the auxiliary ribs to the main ribs which is a positioning corresponding to the termination of the more abrupt curve of the central portion of thecover. In other words, the central portion of the cover is given some freedom of movement. As the portion of the cover inwardly of the innermost clips incorporates the reversed curvature, and as there are no clips within this area, the cover may assume a contour that is circumferentially uniform and without objectionable depressions as might be caused by the presence of clips within this area.

It is believed that it is now clearly apparent that the practice of this invention results in an umbrella of pleasing appearance, of simple and sturdy construction, and one in which an advantageous reduction in length takes place upon movement to a collapsed position. Further, these results are accomplished in an umbrella structure in which a multiplicity of sliding connections are avoided, and in which those parts constituting the center of the umbrella have a relationship such that a weather-tight assembly is readily obtained.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella comprising a central staff, cover supporting ribs having their ends directly connected adjacent an end of said staff and movable thereon from a collapsed to an extended position for support of a cover, and an auxiliary cover supporting means for supporting the cover adjacent the center of the umbrella at an elevated position with respect to said ribs, said auxiliary means being attached to the ribs outwardly of the points of attachment of the ribs to the central staff and extending over and spaced from the staff end.

2. An umbrella comprising a central staff, cover supporting main ribs connected adjacent an end of said staif and movable thereon from a collapsed to an extended position for support of a cover, auxiliary cover supporting means for supporting the cover adjacent the center of the umbrella at an elevated position with respect to said main ribs comprising an auxiliary rib assembly spaced from and extending over the stall end and having attachment to the umbrella only by connections to the main ribs.

3. An umbrella of the character described comprising a central staif, main cover supporting ribs pivotally connected adjacent the upper end of said staff and angularly movable from a collapsed to an extended position, and means for supporting the cover center at an elevated position with respect to said ribs comprising a central supporting member spaced from and extending over the stafi end and short ribs connected to the main ribs at a distance from the staff end and constituting the sole support for said supporting member.

4. An umbrella comprising a central staff, a plurality of cover supporting main ribs connected at their ends to said staff adjacent an end thereof, means for moving the ribs from a collapsed to an extended position, auxiliary ribs connected to the main ribs and extending towards one another from their points of attachment to the main ribs, and a fitting independent of the staff joining said auxiliary ribs at a point in axial extension of the stall and movable with the rib structure from a remote spacing with respect to the staff end in extended position of the umbrella to a position closely adjacent the stalf end in the collapsed position of the umbrella.

5. An umbrella comprising a central staff, a plurality of resilient main ribs pivotally connected to said staff adjacent an end thereof and extending outwardly therefrom in angular spaced relationship, a runner on the shaft, brace rods extending from the runner and connecting to the main ribs inwardly of their ends, auxiliary ribs attached to the main ribs inwardly of the points of attachment of the brace rods to the main ribs, said auxiliary ribs extending centrally towards one another, and a fitting pivotally connecting the auxiliary ribs in assembly and spaced outwardly of the staff end by an amount such that in the extended position of the main ribs the auxiliary ribs stand outwardly therefrom at an angle of the order of and in collapsed position of the main ribs the auxiliary ribslie substantially parallel to the main ribs with the fitting closely adjacent the staff end.

6. An umbrella comprising a central staff, a plurality of main ribs connected to said staff adjacent the upper end thereof, means for moving the ribs from a collapsed to an extended position, auxiliary ribs pivoted to the main ribs and extending above the staff, a fitting independent of the staff joining said auxiliary ribs at a point in axial extension of the shaft, a cover on said main ribs and on said fitting, said fitting including a cap portion providing a fixed attachment of the cover to the fitting, said fitting being movable with the rib structure from a remote spacing with respect to the staff end in the extended position of the ribs to a position closely adjacent the staff end in collapsed position of the ribs, the coordinated movement of the ribs and the fitting being such that the cover is held substantially taut in either position of the ribs.

PAUL G. BRAUNSCHWEIGER. 

